Why St. Louis Blues are NHL's most dangerous wild-card team

[ad_1] The Stanley Cup playoffs really feel as broad open as they've in any current season. Whereas there are a whole lot of wonderful groups within the subject, there isn't any one really dominant group that stands out as a transparent favourite. Nearly each group has a significant flaw or query that would find yourself holding it again.

That additionally means it's fully doable for an surprising group, or maybe even a bottom-seeded group, to go on a run.

The St. Louis Blues, the second wild-card group within the Western Convention, are a type of groups that would go on a surprisingly deep run at a championship.

There are a few elements working of their favor going into their first-round matchup in opposition to the Presidents' Trophy-winning, top-seeded Winnipeg Jets.

The Blues are going into the playoffs as one of many hottest groups within the league and clearly taking part in their finest hockey of the season. Since Feb. 1, their 21-5-4 file is the very best within the NHL, and there may be nothing of their play to recommend it's any type of a fluke.

So, how did they flip right into a juggernaut greater than midway via the season?

The primary growth was the hiring of head coach Jim Montgomery nearly as quickly as he grew to become out there. When the Boston Bruins fired Montgomery, the Blues wasted no time in firing their very own coach (Drew Bannister, who had simply been employed on a full-time foundation previous to the season) to carry him in.

The change behind the bench was not the one important transfer.

Additionally they made probably the greatest in-season trades after they acquired veteran defenseman Cam Fowler from the Anaheim Geese. Fowler has been an enormous addition to the Blues' protection, and together with the offseason addition of Philip Broberg (restricted free agent supply sheet from the Edmonton Oilers), has helped fully remodel a unit that had turn out to be a severe weak point in recent times.

With Montgomery behind the bench and the revamped protection, the Blues have nearly in a single day turn out to be one of many stingiest defensive groups within the league. Throughout their 30-game run to shut out the season, the Blues rank third within the NHL by way of anticipated objectives in opposition to per 60 minutes throughout 5-on-5 play whereas additionally proudly owning the league's finest 5-on-5 purpose differential. They suppress opponents scoring possibilities and have considerably outplayed everyone at even-strength.

That alone makes them a group that playoff groups may wish to keep away from.

However it's not simply their protection that has improved. They've additionally turn out to be one of many high offensive groups within the league throughout the second-half. Dylan Holloway (the opposite restricted free agent they signed away from Edmonton) has been a breakout star in his first 12 months with the group, whereas returning core gamers Jordan Kyrou and Robert Thomas have had large years.

They're second within the NHL in objectives per 60 minutes throughout 5-on-5 play since Feb. 1.

They're additionally taking part in a Winnipeg group that, for all of its strengths this season, has had some disappointing playoff showings in recent times. Particularly because it pertains to beginning goalie Connor Hellebuyck. If Hellebuyck falters once more, even a little bit bit, the door can be open for the Blues to tug off the upset and doubtlessly begin a run.

An in-season teaching change helped flip a disappointing Blues group right into a Stanley Cup champion throughout the 2018-19 season. The identical recipe is in place this season.